Long-Haul Testing With the Updated Model S... and a Tesla Semi?

Recently, we got the opportunity to take the updated 370-mile-range 2019 Tesla Model S for a drive to test how far it can actually go on a charge. To read more about that, you'll want to go here. But while we were driving, we came across a Tesla Semi on an evaluation loop of its own. According to Tesla, its Semi-truck team was conducting chassis and powertrain tests with a heavily loaded trailer on its way to Los Angeles. Interstate-5 is a major trucking corridor, and the steep climb to the Tejon Pass via the Grapevine makes it a great route for development, Tesla says. With production set to begin later this year, we thought this would be a good opportunity to round up everything we've heard so far about the Tesla Semi and present you with some exclusive shots of the all-electric tractor trailer in action.

Range

Without fail, the first thing people want to know about any electric vehicle is how far it can go on a single charge. Considering most people can still remember a time when EVs had short ranges and long charge times, it's a fair question. When Tesla announced the Semi, it promised a 500-mile range at max weight while driving 60 mph. That's enough to drive from Minneapolis to Kansas City without stopping to recharge. If that kind of range isn't necessary for your purposes, Tesla says it will also offer a base model with a 300-mile range.

Charging

A range that allows you to drive from Atlanta to New Orleans without stopping is great, but how long are drivers going to have to wait while the battery recharges? Tesla says that on the right charger, a 30-minute charge will add 400 miles of range. But that doesn't mean the Semi will be able to pull up to just any Supercharger station. That charge rate requires Tesla to build a network of so-called Megachargers. Currently, it's not clear when that network will be ready.

Towing

Whether you like EVs or not, there's no denying that electric motors offer unbeatable low-end torque. When it's time to pull a trailer, that's a huge advantage. Tesla says it designed the Semi to be a Class 8 truck with a maximum towing capacity of 80,000 pounds. The fifth-wheel hitch is also said to be the biggest one available, which would allow the Semi to pull any size trailer.

Performance

The torque that makes an electric truck great at towing should also improve acceleration. Tesla hasn't released powertrain specs, but we do know it will have an electric motor powering each of the four rear wheels. Those motors provide enough grunt to run from 0-60 mph in as little as 5 seconds if it's unloaded. While towing 80,000 pounds, Tesla says the Semi can hit 60 mph in 20 seconds. It can also reportedly maintain 60 mph while towing a full load up a 5-percent incline.

When Tesla first introduced the Semi, we were only able to take a look at the day cab version. Even with a 500-mile range, that makes sense since we get the feeling companies will want to see the Semi show it can handle short-haul duty before putting it into their long-haul fleets. Since then, though, we've seen a few trucks that appear to be configured with sleeper cabs. Tesla also went with a unique central seating position that it says improves safety and provides better visibility.

Price

We won't call the Tesla Semi cheap, but considering how big the battery will have to be to ensure a 300- or 500-mile range, it's less expensive than you might expect. Tesla says the base version will start at $150,000 and upgrading to the 500-mile Semi will be an extra $30,000. There will also be a Founders Series version that's currently expected to cost $200,000.

Operation Costs

One point Tesla has stressed since it announced the Semi is that it will be much more affordable in the long run than a conventional truck. That's partly because fewer moving parts means lower maintenance costs. And since the price of electricity significantly undercuts the price of diesel, Tesla estimates that operators will save $0.25 per mile. Based on the automaker's own math, operators could save $200,000 a year on fuel over millions of miles. Tesla also says regenerative braking is now so effective, the Semi will come with "basically infinite brake life."

Orders

Early on, we heard that Walmart and J.B. Hunt had already placed orders for the Tesla Semi. The reported list has now expanded to include Anheuser-Busch, DHL, FedEx, Meijer, Pepsi, Ryder, Sysco, and UPS. The number of trucks in each of those orders varies significantly between companies, and it will be a while before we know whether any of them decide to order additional Semis. But there's no denying that Tesla has caught the attention of some big players in the trucking industry.

Availability

Originally, Tesla said production of the Semi would begin sometime in 2019. But since we're talking about Tesla here, of course that got pushed back. Recently, Musk confirmed that Semi production is now slated to begin in 2020. When in 2020 or even where Tesla plans to build the Semi, however, still isn't clear.